What are you doing now.

[Marine1011]

Just about ready to take early retirement

[GSEMarine94]

After the Corps I worked as a heavy equipment mechanic while using my GI bill to get a degree in architecture.
Laid off 3 years ago, decided to get back into the military, (National Guard) as an officer this time.
Just left a temp job working as a mechanic again, so I could spend some time with the family before my all expense paid trip to sunny Afghanastan.

[FormerMSG]

Just finished this program:

www.pmf.gov

Now I am a GS-12, Department of the Navy

[tgwkreu7]

i am picking fly schitt off of the fly paper in the bakery shop

[AAV Crewchief]

High school special education teacher and AF reservist currently deployed.

[Phantom Blooper]

What are you doing now.

Sitting here reading....dat's what I'm doing now....

Don't know what I'll be doing later.

[awbrown1462]

I work for the Dept of the Army at Ft. Knox now wife and I are on a 5 year plan to retire have 4 years to go will move to NC then

[advanced]

I hadn't looked at this thread before, but this morning I read through the whole thing. To start off with since the Nam I've had one hell of a ride.

After my discharge I used my Vietnam experience and became a Police Officer in a major city in the south. My first assignment was in a patrol car riding the inner city projects. I loved it, it was the next best thing to still being in the Nam with all the shootings, holdups, and violence. In 75 we started the TACT Squad and I received the honor of being one of the first 22 chosen for the team. Because of my "Fearlessness" (hahaha) I was on the Cobra (entry) team. What a rush. We took everyone alive (much higher level) while I was on the team.

I left being a cop the end of 78 and went into real estate, made a lot of money and lost it all during the 86-88 slowdown. My third wife left me during this period also. During the late 80's I started having PTSD problems and I was told I was experiencing some of the pain I had inflicted on others, I didn't like that. They told me I was feeling all this pain because I was coming out of PTSD, I said put me back in.

I began counseling at the Vet Center in Tampa and the VA hospital and they talked me into going back to school to change my life. I didn't want to go back into adversarial vocations anymore. I didn't want to hurt anyone again.

After resisting the counseling for a couple of years I put in for a disability pension and I enrolled in graduate school using the pell grants available. I started learning everything I could regarding the mind and in 91 I started a small practice as an NLP Trainer/hypnotist. I was told by others in my new field that I had a great deal of what is called primary experience because of the Nam and from being in the streets. I was fluent in a wide range of human emotions I was told.

In 99 two wonderful things happened; my 4th wife went into business with me and my disability finally came in with a sizable chunk of back pay. My wife handled the business because my PTSD was not a good thing there. But I was able to train others and together we built up our hypnosis business to a very sizable practice.

We retired the end of 07 and I stopped hiding that I was a Vietnam veteran (I came out of the closet). Today we live on a couple of acres a mile from the beach just south of Sarasota. While many of you are freezing today will be about 84 again.

I've been a biker all my life and I'm involved with the Patriot Guard, the Legion Riders and the Combat Vets. No motorcycle clubs for me. I still have some freedom because down here (a free state) I can ride my Indian without having to wear a helmet if I choose with my 45 auto on my side. My friends say my 40 year old Road Name "Doc Holiday" still fits.

Ain't life great, I've always had the charm!

[dhuntington]

I also am a corrections officer. I've been doing that for 17 years now. I'm also the prison armorer and an instructor. Until recently, I was also a CERT member and chemical munitions specialist.

[Gy7ras]

I'm fully retired but do a lot of volunteer work to stay busy.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Advanced, what a GREAT story!!!! Thanks for sharing that one.

v/r
Lep

[mcvet57103]

Can't remember if I posted to this thread already but here goes.

After the Marines, I went to Vo-Tech for auto-mechanics on the GI bill. Spent one year as a wrench. Realized that being a Mechanic for someone else only made them rich. Didn't have the money to start my own shop so I started driving OTR trucks like my Mom & Dad did as a team. First wife and I divorced because she cheated on me while I was on the road. Quit my job, and bummed off relatives for a year.

Then tried sewing machine repair. Made the mistake of asking out a woman at work who was dating the married manager on the sly. That ended that.

Went back into OTR trucking. Had a boss who thoughht a weekend at home was Saturday afternoon till Sunday afternoon. Had to run two log books to stay legal when stopped by DOT. Got burned out on that job after my dispatcher lied to me one to many times, and I told them where to put their job.

Bummed off relatives again for about a year, While going to Business Management at the local Technical College. Then tried retail management for a year. I guess my Marine bull-headedness got me into trouble because I can't seem to tolerate stupid, or inconsiderate people. Pizzed off the district manager and he had me fired.


Then got a job as a Machine Operator for a packaging company for 5 years. That went away after a battle of wills with the new plant manager.

In the middle of all this I managed to get Married, and divorced twice more.

Back to OTR trucking for 14 years, met my current Wife, then found a job as a Redi-mix concrete truck driver. Finally found my nitch (sp). Been doing that for 10 years now. I get to see the area grow and change, and am a part of it. Leaving a legacy in poured concrete all around a three county area. Whenever possible I flip a penny into the mixture. Then I can truly say I have money in this or that building. LOL I must have money in several hundred places by now. LOL Redi-mix is rewarding, but if you don't like getting muddy, wet, and sweaty it aint for you. Have finally reached that point in life where I make enough so I can afford to take winter layoff and stay warm. SF

[advanced]

mcvet - Enjoyed your story, glad you finally found your happy place.

[herkybirdRO]

After getting out of the Corps in 1974,I used the GI Bill to attend 4 years of electrical apprenticeship in Houston. Worked for various contractors in the area before starting my own company. That went belly up in the oil crash in 1988,so hit the road for work,ended up seeing a lot of the country while making a living. Retired early after 4 back surgeries,and have been absolutely enjoying life with my 3rd wife. We live full-time in a 34 foot motorhome,spend the summers in Michigan,and the winters in Texas and Florida. Got no money,but we stay warm all year! Also nice 'cause I love ridin' my Harley!! Couldn't have done any of this without the attitude the Marine Corps instilled in me. Semper Fi!!

[Ramadi01]

Still in the Corps about to pick up e5, filling out a packet for MARSOC